A Cop's Duty, A Brother's Love

This one-shot was not part of the scenes or ideas I had originally planned. It was just an idea that just popped into my head one night about a week ago, and I decided to write it down. Enjoy!

Takes place in the next spring following the end of "New Beginnings and Happy Endings."

"Emma! Look out!"

Her brother's warning was the last thing Emma remembered hearing before rushing to the hospital.

She and David had been called to one of the convenient stores on account of a robbery. When they arrived, the robber pulled out a pistol.

David was attempting to get the man to drop his weapon while Emma was ushering the frightened customers to safety.

Everything went downhill when the robber pointed his gun at Emma. David shouted at her, but she didn't have time to grab the gun at her waist before a bullet was headed toward her. David fired his own gun at the robber while moving to protect Emma, earning him a bullet lodged in his shoulder.

Emma was now pacing around the waiting room, trying with everything she had in her to remain strong and professional. They were cops - even in a town like Storybrooke, things were bound to get dangerous at times.

She sighed before she saw her sister-in-law, niece, and husband all rush into the waiting room.

Evie immediately ran over to Emma as she asked, "Is Dad going to be alright?"

"Of course, kid. He's in surgery now - you know that Dr. Whale is amazing at what he does. Your dad will be fine," Emma replied as she pulled Evie in for a hug and stroked her brown locks.

When they pulled away, Mary Margaret and Killian asked simultaneously, "What happened?"

"We went to go check out a convenience store robbery, and when we got there, the guy pulled a gun. While David was trying to get him to put it down, I was getting the customers out of there. The next thing I knew, David jumped in front of the bullet so it wouldn't hit me," Emma explained.

"Where's the bastard that did this?" Killian asked, his anger evident.

Emma placed a calming hand on his arm as she told all of them, "Being checked out by one of the other doctors as we speak. I think that David's bullet grazed him. As soon as he's in the clear, I'm hauling him to jail."

Emma was trying desperately to keep the emotion from her voice, but it still came through.

Mary Margaret then suggested, "How about we all sit down while we wait for news?"

Emma, Killian, and Evie nodded before sitting down.

An hour later, Evie groaned and buried her face in her hands.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"I have a biology test tomorrow that I have to study for."

"It is getting late. Perhaps you should go home," Mary Margaret told her as she ran her fingers through her daughter's hair.

"But I want to be here when Dad is out of surgery," Evie protested.

"I promise I will keep you updated, honey. You can see him tomorrow after school. Go study and then get some sleep," Mary Margaret told Evie.

Evie sighed before she reluctantly agreed.

"Come on, love, I'll take you home," Killian suggested.

Evie nodded before she hugged her mother and aunt. She and Killian then made their way out of the hospital.

Mary Margaret then turned to Emma and asked, "So, you want to tell me how you're really doing?"

Emma simply answered, "I'm fine. What's important here is David."

"Emma, I know you still often feel the need to be strong for everyone else's sake, but you don't have to be," Mary Margaret told her.

The blonde then turned to face her sister-in-law and said, "Shouldn't I be the one reassuring you? Your husband was shot."

Mary Margaret took a deep breath before she began, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried sick about him. But he's been a cop for a long time - I know things like this happen. That knowledge doesn't always make things easier, but I know that David will get through this. He's too stubborn to let a bullet to the shoulder bring him down. I have hope - and you should too, Emma."

"I know, and I'm trying. But I can't shake the feeling that this is my fault," Emma admitted.

"Emma, you know that isn't true."

"The bullet was meant for me, Mary Margaret. I should be the one having surgery," Emma pointed out, her voice cracking.

Mary Margaret then pulled her in for a hug. As they pulled away, she said, "Emma, you've been a cop almost as long as David has. You know that they look out for each other and protect their own. This is even more true because you are David's sister - he wanted to protect you. And don't tell me that you wouldn't have done the exact thing for him."

Emma sighed before she said, "Of course I would have. I wouldn't have thought twice about it."

"Then stop blaming yourself."

Emma nodded just before Dr. Whale came into the waiting room.

Both women stood as he approached. He then told them, "David made it through the surgery fine. The bullet was removed cleanly, and he'll be good as new after a few days of rest."

"Thank you, Dr. Whale. Can we see him now?" Mary Margaret spoke.

"Of course," he answered before saying, "If you'll excuse me, I have more patients."

As Dr. Whale left, Emma made a move to sit down but was stopped by Mary Margaret.

"Emma, I'll wait here while you go see David."

"Don't be ridiculous, Mary Margaret. You should go first. I'll be fine," Emma told her.

The petite brunette placed her hands on her hips as she said, "I won't take no for an answer. I know how worried you were about him. And before you can protest, I have a long history of beating David's stubbornness. I can beat yours, too."

Emma thought a moment before she nodded in agreement. She then got up and made her way to her brother's room.

As soon as she walked in, his mind was on the case as if he wasn't shot only hours ago.

"Where's the thief?"

"Sitting in a jail cell. While you were in surgery, he was given a clean bill of health. So, I cuffed him, read him his rights, and took him down to the station," Emma answered.

"Well, he can expect to have a charge of assault to an officer added to robbery," David retorted.

"Easy there, Sheriff. Whale said you need to rest, which means leaving everything to me and not worrying about it," Emma told him.

"I'm fine. I don't need to take time off," David protested.

Emma sighed before she said, "Look, David, you know that I'm every bit as stubborn as you are. And we both know that you'll eventually give into your little sister, so you might as well just surrender now," with a grin on the last part.

David grinned back as he told her, "Now I know why Killian says that he can't win an argument with you."

Emma's grin grew into a smile in response.

She then became serious as she said, "Thank you, David."

"For what?"

Emma narrowed her eyes at him before she elaborated, "Come on, David, you know that the bullet was meant for me. And I'm not sure I would have gotten away with just a shoulder wound. So, thank you for protecting me."

David offered a humble smile as he told her, "You're welcome, Emma. Although your thanks isn't necessary. I was just doing my duty as your partner - and your brother. You know I'd do anything for you."

Emma smiled back at him before she hugged him tightly on his good side.

As they pulled away, she said, "You know, most people don't choose their siblings, but in a way I kind of did. I let you and Mom in - I wanted you guys to be my family."

"We both wanted you to be in ours, and we couldn't be happier that you did choose us," David replied.

Emma then reminisced, "I remember that day like it was yesterday. I came home from studying with Elsa and recognized my social worker's car. My first thought was to run because I just knew that Mom had decided she didn't want me. But something told me to stay.

I trudged inside, still expecting the worst. But then I saw you guys' smiling faces and became confused. Even more so when my social worker left saying you two would give me the good news. When Mom said that she wanted to adopt me and showed me the papers, I almost convinced myself that was dreaming. That day is still one of the happiest of my life."

David smiled genuinely at her before he told her, "Mine too. I expected my life to change during my senior year of high school - becoming an older brother was not part of those plans. But I lucked out because I got a pretty amazing sister - even I had met my match when it came to stubbornness," his smile turning teasing.

Emma rolled her eyes at him before she pointed out, "And now we both have kids who are exactly like us in that aspect."

David couldn't help but chuckle at that.

He then added, "And Jamie and Evie are exactly how we were at their age."

"Oh, you mean he is annoyingly overprotective, as well as annoying in general?"

"You missed out on the annoying big brother as a kid, so I thought I'd give you that experience," David defended, trying (and failing) to sound serious.

Emma couldn't help but laugh in response just as Mary Margaret came in.

"Sounds like someone has stopped carrying around blame on their shoulders," the brunette surmised.

"Yes. She has realized that I was just doing what anyone else in my situation would have," David supplied.

"You do know I am capable of answering for myself," Emma pointed out with crossed arms.

David simply shrugged his good shoulder in response.

Emma shook her head before she stood up from the chair she had been sitting in. She exchanged hugs and goodbyes before she exited the room.

As she walked toward her car, she thought about how neither one of her brothers were biologically related to her. She then smiled because she knew that family wasn't always blood. It was the people who were there for you in thick and thin, and those people you could always count on.

It was the person who would take a bullet for you, and you wouldn't hesitate to do the same for them.